Cap for collapsible metal containers



March Jll 9 39245 J. E. ANDERSQN CAP rlo dcoLLAPsUesms METAL CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 5., i923 mwa/Pf Patented ll, i924..

NETE@ STATES' entrant 'cierren JAMES EARL ANDERSON, 0F SANFRANCISCO, CALEFORNA.

GAF' FR CGILLAFSEBLE CUNTMNMS.

Application nlcd January S, 1923. Serial En. 610,446.

, and useful improvement in a Cap for Collapsible Metal Containers, of which the tollowingv is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in caps forcollapsible metal tubes and the like and is directed particularly to a device attachable upon the ordinary collapsible container to replace the usual threaded cap.

The .primary object is to provide an iin- -proved cap for collapsible metal containers.

Another object is to provide an impipved device adapted to facilitate the opening and closing cfa container of the character described.

A further object is to provide an improved device which will eiiectively' close the container to protect the contents trom deterioration and to maintain the same in a sanitar condition.

still further object is toprovide a device which which may be readily removed 'from a container when'tbe contents have been exhausted and applied upon a new tube.

A further object is to provide a device of simple construction which can be readily stamped from sheet metal and marketed at a nominal cost.

l accomplish these and other objects by means vof the device disclosed .in the drawings forming a part of the present specification wherein like characters of reference are used to designateisimilar parts throughout said lspecification and drawings, and in which Fig. 1 is aside elevation of my invention, as applied upon ,a collapsible metal tube container.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of my improved cap as applied upon the tube.

Fig. 3 is a broken elevation of the tube showing the back of the cap.

'Fig 4 is a plan view of the device a shown in Fig. l.

Referring to the drawings the numeral l is used to designate in general a container such as .the collapsible metal containers in which` tooth paste, and similar toilet preparations are commonly sold. Such containers, as is well known, are commonly pro-.

vided with a threaded dispensing tip 2 arranged to receive a cap screwed thereon to close the tube, it being necessar to 4remove the cap before the substance wit 'n the tube can be dispensed. This cap is frequently dropped and lost, or becomes bent to "such a degree that it can no longer be applied upon the tip 2. Furthermore, the threads ot the tip, which is made ot lead or other soft nieta-l, become coated with the substance contained within the tube, or become damaged to such an extent that application of the cap becomes impractical.

To overcome these didiculties and to i'acilitate the opening and closin ot the tube, l have provided an iinprovedg cap consisting of a cover member 3 stamped from sheet metal to fit over the top of the tube. An aperture lis formed in the cover to receive the tip 2, when the cover is applied u on the tube. A flange 6 formed from a p urality of segments turned downwardly from the cover is arranged to detachably engage the top of the tube. 'llhe segments are so shaped that when the dange 6 is forced over the end or the tube, the segments will be sprung outwardly tovpass over the top edge of the tube, which is made. of relatively heavy metal of rigid construction, and Athen return to normal position to engage the tube along the top edge thereof.

Ari-extension 7 is formed upon one side of the cover 3 and arranged to conform with the side of the tube. Arcuate arms 8 are formed upon the end of the extension to engage the sides of the tube, said arms preferably extending slightly beyond the center of the tube and being made with a slight spring resilience to maintain engagement with the tube whereby distortion of the upper portion of the tube may be prevented and a suitab e gripping surface provided for holding the tube.

Luge 9 are stamped out from the extension 7 and bent outwardly into parallel spaced relation. Apertures 11 are formed in the lugs 9 toreceive bearings 12 carried upon the sides of a stopper member 13 pivotally mounted thereon. The stopper inember 13 is provided with an extension le.

shaped to extend over the end of the dispensing tip 2 and preferably provided with a slightly recessed pad 16 made of rubber, cork, or other suitable material to be pressed rmly over the opening in the dispensing ti IAn actuating lever portion 17 is formed upon the opposite end of the member 13 and arranged to be depressed against the pressure of a spring 18 secured upon the eXtension 7 to move'the member 13 pivotally upon the bearings 12 Iand thereby move the ex-A tension 14; out of engagement with the dispensing tip as shown in dotted lines in Flg. 1 0i' the drawings. The spring 18 1s secured upon the back of the extension 7 and arranged to normallyhold thestopper memher 13 in closing relation to the dispensing tip and to return the member. to the closing osition -When the actuating lever 17 is re y cased.

'llhe substance enclosed within the tube is dispensed in the usual manner by exerting a slight pressure upon the sides of the tube,

4the extension 7 and arms 8 being readily gripped in such manner as to depress the lever portion and thereby move the extension lll away from, dispensing tip and at the Asame time permit the fingers of the user to be pressed .against the tube. When suihcient substance has been dispensed the user vhas only to release his grip upon the tube andstopper and the spring will move the extension 14- back into engagement'with the tip to edectively close the tube and preventthe displacement of further quantities of the substance. The movement of the stopper member 13 is madesuticient to permit a brush to be applied closely to the tip toreceive the dispensed substance.

From the above description it will be seen that ll have provided an improved cap 'for tubes of the character described which may be stamped from sheet metal and assembled at a nominal cost and which may be conveniently removed from one tube and applied upon another so that a single cap may e made to serve indefinitely, thereby a'ordg ing an ei'ective closing device at an en! tremely lowcost to the user. The construction illustrated in the drawings is, or course,

subject to modification in many ways 'and may be made to present any desired ornamental appearance. ll, therefore, do not wish 4 to restrict myself-to the precise form disclosed in the drawings, but desire to avail a spring mounted between the cover andthe myself of such modlications as may dialLstnpper to normally hold said stopper in enwithin the scope of the appended claims.l

Having thus described my invention, what recopie 2. A cap for collapsible metal tubes and the like comprising a cover having a central aperture adapted to receive the dispensing tip of a tube;'a flange formed upon the edge or' the cover to detachably engage the top of the tube; an extension formed upon the cover to engage the tube at a point below the top thereof; and a stopper pivotally 'mounte upon said' extension and arranged tonor mally close the opening in the dispensing ti 'i-ygf A cap for collapsible tubes and A the like comprising a cover having a central aperture adapted to receive the dispensing tip of a tube; a flange formed in a p urality of expandible segments u'ponjthe edge of the cover to detachably engage the top-off the tube; a stopper pivotally mounted upon said cover; and a spring arranged kto normally hold said stopper in engagement with riti sol

the dispensing tip to close the same.

tube; a iange formed in a plurality of expandible segments shaped to detachably engage the top of the tube when forced thereover; an extension formed upon the cover upon one side of the tube, said extension being provided with laterally extending por tions shaped to engage the sides of the tube; and a stopper pivotally vmounted upon the extension and shaped to extend into engagement with the dispensing tip; and arranged to be moved away from said tip to permit substance to be dispensed therethrough. i

5. A cap for collapsible tubesand the like comprising a cover having a central aperture adapted to receivethe dispensing tip of a tube; a flange formed in a plurality of expandiblel segments shaped to detachably engage the top of the tube when forced thereover; an extension formed upon the cover upon one side ofthe tube, said extension being provided with laterally extending portions shaped to engage the sides of the tube; and a stopper pivotally mounted upon the extension and shaped to extend into engagegagement with thetip. i I

6. A cap for collapsible metal tubes and the like comprising a cover stamped from sheet metal and having a central aperture arranged to receive the dispensing tip ofc tube; a flange shaped upon the edge of the cover and formed in a plurality of segments adapted to be expanded to engage the top of the tube; an extension formed upon one side of the cover and arranged to conform to a side of the tube; arcuate arms ormed'u on the end of said extension to engage the sides )L30 of the tube; lugs stannped from the extenvided with an actuating portion wherehy sion and bent to outwardly extending said lclosing portion may be moved to disparallel position; and a stopper pivotally engage the dispensing tip to permit sub- E@ mounted between saidlugs, said vstopper bestance to be dispensed therethrough. 5 ing provided'at one end with er tube closing in witness whereof hereunto set my sigortion arranged to engage the end of the nture. y i ispensing tip 'to close the same, and prol JAWS EARL ANDERSUN.' 

